How does the media affect illicit drug and alcohol use in high schools across the country and what drugs are teens using the most frequently these days?
Summary This article written in Newsweek Magazine depicts an interview with a young boy named Evan who is only 19 years old. He began using marijuana on a regular basis at age 14, which led to him snorting his own prescribed sleeping pills, which then led to his experimentation with ecstasy, cocaine, and many other drugs. Evan describes in the interview, " It all started freshman year of high school. I smoked pot for the first time. Over the course of two or three months it progressed to an everyday kind of thing. [Then] some girls in my high school who started snorting pills told me all the crazy stories about stuff that had happened while they'd done it." He goes on to explain that he would find much of his pharmaceutical drugs, "Pharmies", from his peers or at concerts. Evan also explained the medias role in portrayal of drugs in this quote, "You rarely see any movies about people who face horrible consequences for smoking pot. They've got all the joke stoner movies... The bad things that come from it are mostly junk food and cost as opposed to overdoses and heavy arrests. It's not too looked-down-upon in our society, especially with everything going on with the legalization efforts." Evan describes that the goal amongst him and his friends was to see who could "black out", not remember a single thing from being too drunk or high, first on a friday night. The interviewee also asked Evan how he felt about Heath Ledger's (a very famous actor who is best known for playing the joker in Batman overdose that led to his premature death. He responded with, "It reminded me of what could have happened to me last year." Lastly, Newsweek asked Evan to comment on the White House's Campaign on Illicit drug use that was very prevalent in the media in 2008. He stated that, " The prescription thing is huge. People know coke is bad; people know heroin is bad. You don't need too many commercials out there saying that. The whole idea that this thing that the doctor's prescribing you could very easily become an addictive habit, or cause an overdose, or get into your kid's hands and suddenly he and his friends have a new weekend activity—that's something people need to know" (Springen). Reaction After most teens try one drug, they have a huge amount of trouble trying to resist trying the next drug. This article from Newsweek is probably the most important of all within my research. It shows a real life situation of a teen who becomes heavily addicted to many drugs through first trying marijuana. It was great to hear insight from a recovering addict that can portray what he saw the media as stating when he was an addict. Drugs are easy to do, to get, and are a fun time as depicted in the "funny stoner jokes" Evan describes in the article. He also said that going to a concert meant that he was going to do drugs, the music was not his first priority. He is another great example of how kids are using their own prescriptions to get high and trading with others at school to get their hands on any type of prescription they may not be able to obtain themselves. This article is very important to my research because Evan states the problem for me in his quote " The prescription thing is huge. People know coke is bad; people know heroin is bad. You don't need too many commercials out there saying that. The whole idea that this thing that the doctor's prescribing you could very easily become an addictive habit, or cause an overdose, or get into your kid's hands and suddenly he and his friends have a new weekend activity—that's something people need to know" (Springen). We no longer have to worry about our illegal drugs but our legal ones too!
This short but informative editorial enlightens the public on teens use of prescription drugs. The article touches upon the fact that teens are overusing their own prescribed medications and also frequently selling them in school to peers. A survey was taken of over 2,000 high school students in the Detroit area and concluded that 22%of students admitted that they had taken more than their prescribed dosage to feel high. The University of Michigan found that kids who abused their prescriptions were more likely to start abusing other drugs also. Binge drinking, smoking pot, and smoking cigarettes is also said to be the next step in prescription drug abuse among teens. The author also recommends that doctors prescribe these medication to teens should be very particular in assessing them and see that they receive a second opinion.
Reaction
This article was very helpful toward my research because it highlights the problem that is sweeping across high schools: prescription drug use. More and more teens are finding ways to get high and some of the easiest ways to do so are by looking in your own medicine cabinet. The editorial explains that kids are now misusing their own prescriptions that they initially needed for a medical reason. Prescription drugs more than ever are leading to other unhealthy habits such as cigarette smoking, drinking, and marijuana use. Prescription drug use is on the rise and just are another addition to the large list of substances kids are abusing today. This is a very scary eye opener for many because prescriptions are a huge part of our lives and are found literally everywhere.
3. Journal Article
(2010, November). Media cooperation needed to curb adolescent drug use. Infectious Diseases in Children. p. 38. SummaryThis scholarly journal explains the medias affect on the positive portrayal of tobacco and alcohol. The media uses funny jokes, celebrities, flashy objects to promote to teens and kids of even younger ages that alcohol is exciting. The glamorization of smoking has had more than half of all teens in the US trying cigarettes these days. Most alcohol commercials are shown during teen television shows and big time sporting events that draw the attention of teens. A drinking scene occurs on television every 22 minutes and most of the time depicts a happy or humors action. There is also a link to social networking sites that promote teen drinking because about 40% of profiles contain references to substance abuse. Physicians are working to inform parents that TV and internet should be more closely monitored. They also would like to ban certain advertisements with the help of legislature to decrease the positive and unrealistic portrayal of alcohol and tobacco. Physicians would also like accurate and realistic effects of drugs and alcohol made known.
Reaction This article was very helpful to my research because it showed the perspective of alcohol and tobacco portrayal in the media and how Physicians feel it is affecting teens and why there should be a concern from our parents to our government. The positive portrayal of partying on TV shows, in movies, and even magazines is becoming disturbing. You cannot browse through the TV channels without seeing some type of drinking, smoking, or drug use going on. The media is a huge part of our influence as we grow up and now, we have even more types of it to influence our behavior such as social networking. Almost every teen logs into Facebook, Twitter, or another type of site every single day to see pictures of their friends from the weekend, catch up on the latest gossip, and click through constant advertisements that pop up. Companies have more ways than ever to show us advertising of alcohol and tobacco. We are even subject to these messages through our advanced mobile devices.
4. Journal Article Dal Cin, S., Worth, K. A., Gerrard, M., Gibbons, F. X., Stoolmiller, M., Wills, T. A., & Sargent, J. D. (2009). Watching and drinking: Expectancies, prototypes, and friends’ alcohol use mediate the effect of exposure to alcohol use in movies on adolescent drinking.Health Psychology,28(4), 473-483. doi:10.1037/a0014777
Summary This scholarly journal comes from the database PyschArticles . The information from this article goes in detail about research project where calls were made randomly across the US to assess how movies and the alcohol use in the affected adolescents. The study proved that there was definetly an association between alcohol consumption and what was scene in the movies amongst teens. Movies that positively display alcohol use have a direct relation with risk behaviors in teens. The article explains that younger people are more susceptible to pressures of what "normal" behavior is seen to be, which in our society is trying a drink around the high school age. Movies bias teens thinking of how alcohol works in movies compared to in the real world. People using alchol in movies are typically popular, athletic, good looking, and successful while in real life, this isn't always the case. Reaction This scholarly journal is crucial to my research because it contains a large amount of accurately gathered information that relates media to the use of alcohol. The article particularly focuses on movies and what variables play into teens drinking. It is explained that more attractive movie characters that drink will act as a positive prototype making drinking more appealing and unrealistic. This research is important because much of what the media feeds us is unrealistic for the everyday person. Teens do not get to see the negative consequences that go hand in hand with drinking. I thought it was interesting that this study included demographic characteristics and even went as far to assess if the children had gotten good grades or attended church. Through this thorough research, it was found that, "Both movie alcohol exposure and general mediaexposure uniquely predicted alcohol consumption" (Dal Cin 12).
5. ERIC Summary Article Johnston, L. D., O, P. M., Bachman, J. G., & Schulenberg, J. E. (2010). Monitoring the future: National results on adolescent drug use. National Results on Adolescent Drug Use. Overview of Key Findings, 2009, 83. Retrieved from http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/search/recordDetails.jsp?searchtype=advanced SummaryMonitoring for the Future is a large scale study that has been in action since the mid 1970s. This study was created by the University of Michigan and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in order to evaluate substance abuse by the American people. Although they focus on a number of different age groups cutting of at age 50, there is a specific section that focuses on teens and adolescents. Drug and alcohol use is a leading causes of death in our country and from this study, it is evident that that problem is not going away anytime soon. The study represents graphs on each drug that explain to us who is using, when they last used, and their feelings towards the drug. When looking at the chart about Heroin, there are very low levels of acceptance in 8th, 10th, and 12th grade but, when looking at the acceptance for alcohol use in those grades, the rate is much higher.
Reaction This research is important for my piece of the project because it displays visual representation of data in the years we are focusing on the most: high school and end of middle school. The information is very organized and easy to interpret. The information was derived from anonymous questionnaires in 8th and 10th grade which allow people to be honest about their answers. In 12th grade, the questionnaires were confidential. I found the information displayed to be accurate in what I would have thought would be the most popular and least popular drugs in high schools. Marijuana was found to be the most prevalent illicit drug and the only one that did not decrease in usage. The use of Adderall, an ADHD prescription medication, is on the rise and was assessed for the first time in 2009. I found interesting that Cocaine usage was decreasing steadily in each age group. Prescription drug use and over-the-counter cough medicines did NOT decrease in usage either from the year 2007 and is most prevalent in 2009 in 10th grade.This further exemplifies our countries problem with prescription drugs.
EDC 102 Final Project Rubric for Part I: Background Research
Name: Score:
Points awarded
(Points Possible) Criteria
(1) Research was summarized on the team's issue page.
(2) Five articles summarized, including:
• (1) At least one editorial or viewpoint essay. (From Opposing Viewpoints, CQ Researcher, or Op/Ed from reputable magazine or newspaper.)
• (1) At least one analysis article from a magazine or reputable newspaper.
• (1) At least two journal articles.
• (1) At least one related ERIC summary article or CQ Researcher Report.
(3) Article entries include a APA* citation, a summary paragraph, and a reaction paragraph.
1. Magazine Article:
Springen, K. (2008, February 20). Powerful and dangerous drugs. Newsweek, Retrieved from http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2008/02/20/powerful-and-dangerous-drugs.html
Summary
This article written in Newsweek Magazine depicts an interview with a young boy named Evan who is only 19 years old. He began using marijuana on a regular basis at age 14, which led to him snorting his own prescribed sleeping pills, which then led to his experimentation with ecstasy, cocaine, and many other drugs. Evan describes in the interview,
" It all started freshman year of high school. I smoked pot for the first time. Over the course of two or three months it progressed to an everyday kind of thing. [Then] some girls in my high school who started snorting pills told me all the crazy stories about stuff that had happened while they'd done it."
He goes on to explain that he would find much of his pharmaceutical drugs, "Pharmies", from his peers or at concerts. Evan also explained the medias role in portrayal of drugs in this quote,
"You rarely see any movies about people who face horrible consequences for smoking pot. They've got all the joke stoner movies... The bad things that come from it are mostly junk food and cost as opposed to overdoses and heavy arrests. It's not too looked-down-upon in our society, especially with everything going on with the legalization efforts."
Evan describes that the goal amongst him and his friends was to see who could "black out", not remember a single thing from being too drunk or high, first on a friday night. The interviewee also asked Evan how he felt about Heath Ledger's (a very famous actor who is best known for playing the joker in Batman overdose that led to his premature death. He responded with, "It reminded me of what could have happened to me last year." Lastly, Newsweek asked Evan to comment on the White House's Campaign on Illicit drug use that was very prevalent in the media in 2008. He stated that, " The prescription thing is huge. People know coke is bad; people know heroin is bad. You don't need too many commercials out there saying that. The whole idea that this thing that the doctor's prescribing you could very easily become an addictive habit, or cause an overdose, or get into your kid's hands and suddenly he and his friends have a new weekend activity—that's something people need to know" (Springen).
Reaction
After most teens try one drug, they have a huge amount of trouble trying to resist trying the next drug. This article from Newsweek is probably the most important of all within my research. It shows a real life situation of a teen who becomes heavily addicted to many drugs through first trying marijuana. It was great to hear insight from a recovering addict that can portray what he saw the media as stating when he was an addict. Drugs are easy to do, to get, and are a fun time as depicted in the "funny stoner jokes" Evan describes in the article. He also said that going to a concert meant that he was going to do drugs, the music was not his first priority. He is another great example of how kids are using their own prescriptions to get high and trading with others at school to get their hands on any type of prescription they may not be able to obtain themselves. This article is very important to my research because Evan states the problem for me in his quote " The prescription thing is huge. People know coke is bad; people know heroin is bad. You don't need too many commercials out there saying that. The whole idea that this thing that the doctor's prescribing you could very easily become an addictive habit, or cause an overdose, or get into your kid's hands and suddenly he and his friends have a new weekend activity—that's something people need to know" (Springen). We no longer have to worry about our illegal drugs but our legal ones too!
2. Editorial
Healy, M. (2011, August 11). For teens, misuse of rx drugs predicts abuse of other drugs. Los Angeles Times:Booster Shots Blog, Retrieved from http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-teens-rx-drugs-20110802,0,4949805.story
Summary
This short but informative editorial enlightens the public on teens use of prescription drugs. The article touches upon the fact that teens are overusing their own prescribed medications and also frequently selling them in school to peers. A survey was taken of over 2,000 high school students in the Detroit area and concluded that 22%of students admitted that they had taken more than their prescribed dosage to feel high. The University of Michigan found that kids who abused their prescriptions were more likely to start abusing other drugs also. Binge drinking, smoking pot, and smoking cigarettes is also said to be the next step in prescription drug abuse among teens. The author also recommends that doctors prescribe these medication to teens should be very particular in assessing them and see that they receive a second opinion.
Reaction
This article was very helpful toward my research because it highlights the problem that is sweeping across high schools: prescription drug use. More and more teens are finding ways to get high and some of the easiest ways to do so are by looking in your own medicine cabinet. The editorial explains that kids are now misusing their own prescriptions that they initially needed for a medical reason. Prescription drugs more than ever are leading to other unhealthy habits such as cigarette smoking, drinking, and marijuana use. Prescription drug use is on the rise and just are another addition to the large list of substances kids are abusing today. This is a very scary eye opener for many because prescriptions are a huge part of our lives and are found literally everywhere.
3. Journal Article
(2010, November). Media cooperation needed to curb adolescent drug use. Infectious Diseases in Children. p. 38.
SummaryThis scholarly journal explains the medias affect on the positive portrayal of tobacco and alcohol. The media uses funny jokes, celebrities, flashy objects to promote to teens and kids of even younger ages that alcohol is exciting. The glamorization of smoking has had more than half of all teens in the US trying cigarettes these days. Most alcohol commercials are shown during teen television shows and big time sporting events that draw the attention of teens. A drinking scene occurs on television every 22 minutes and most of the time depicts a happy or humors action. There is also a link to social networking sites that promote teen drinking because about 40% of profiles contain references to substance abuse. Physicians are working to inform parents that TV and internet should be more closely monitored. They also would like to ban certain advertisements with the help of legislature to decrease the positive and unrealistic portrayal of alcohol and tobacco. Physicians would also like accurate and realistic effects of drugs and alcohol made known.
Reaction This article was very helpful to my research because it showed the perspective of alcohol and tobacco portrayal in the media and how Physicians feel it is affecting teens and why there should be a concern from our parents to our government. The positive portrayal of partying on TV shows, in movies, and even magazines is becoming disturbing. You cannot browse through the TV channels without seeing some type of drinking, smoking, or drug use going on. The media is a huge part of our influence as we grow up and now, we have even more types of it to influence our behavior such as social networking. Almost every teen logs into Facebook, Twitter, or another type of site every single day to see pictures of their friends from the weekend, catch up on the latest gossip, and click through constant advertisements that pop up. Companies have more ways than ever to show us advertising of alcohol and tobacco. We are even subject to these messages through our advanced mobile devices.
4. Journal Article
Dal Cin, S., Worth, K. A., Gerrard, M., Gibbons, F. X., Stoolmiller, M., Wills, T. A., & Sargent, J. D. (2009). Watching and drinking: Expectancies, prototypes, and friends’ alcohol use mediate the effect of exposure to alcohol use in movies on adolescent drinking.Health Psychology, 28(4), 473-483. doi:10.1037/a0014777
Summary
This scholarly journal comes from the database PyschArticles . The information from this article goes in detail about research project where calls were made randomly across the US to assess how movies and the alcohol use in the affected adolescents. The study proved that there was definetly an association between alcohol consumption and what was scene in the movies amongst teens. Movies that positively display alcohol use have a direct relation with risk behaviors in teens. The article explains that younger people are more susceptible to pressures of what "normal" behavior is seen to be, which in our society is trying a drink around the high school age. Movies bias teens thinking of how alcohol works in movies compared to in the real world. People using alchol in movies are typically popular, athletic, good looking, and successful while in real life, this isn't always the case.
Reaction
This scholarly journal is crucial to my research because it contains a large amount of accurately gathered information that relates media to the use of alcohol. The article particularly focuses on movies and what variables play into teens drinking. It is explained that more attractive movie characters that drink will act as a positive prototype making drinking more appealing and unrealistic. This research is important because much of what the media feeds us is unrealistic for the everyday person. Teens do not get to see the negative consequences that go hand in hand with drinking. I thought it was interesting that this study included demographic characteristics and even went as far to assess if the children had gotten good grades or attended church. Through this thorough research, it was found that, "Both movie alcohol exposure and general mediaexposure uniquely predicted alcohol consumption" (Dal Cin 12).
5. ERIC Summary Article
Johnston, L. D., O, P. M., Bachman, J. G., & Schulenberg, J. E. (2010). Monitoring the future: National results on adolescent drug use. National Results on Adolescent Drug Use. Overview of Key Findings, 2009, 83. Retrieved from http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/search/recordDetails.jsp?searchtype=advanced
SummaryMonitoring for the Future is a large scale study that has been in action since the mid 1970s. This study was created by the University of Michigan and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in order to evaluate substance abuse by the American people. Although they focus on a number of different age groups cutting of at age 50, there is a specific section that focuses on teens and adolescents. Drug and alcohol use is a leading causes of death in our country and from this study, it is evident that that problem is not going away anytime soon. The study represents graphs on each drug that explain to us who is using, when they last used, and their feelings towards the drug. When looking at the chart about Heroin, there are very low levels of acceptance in 8th, 10th, and 12th grade but, when looking at the acceptance for alcohol use in those grades, the rate is much higher.
Reaction
This research is important for my piece of the project because it displays visual representation of data in the years we are focusing on the most: high school and end of middle school. The information is very organized and easy to interpret. The information was derived from anonymous questionnaires in 8th and 10th grade which allow people to be honest about their answers. In 12th grade, the questionnaires were confidential. I found the information displayed to be accurate in what I would have thought would be the most popular and least popular drugs in high schools. Marijuana was found to be the most prevalent illicit drug and the only one that did not decrease in usage. The use of Adderall, an ADHD prescription medication, is on the rise and was assessed for the first time in 2009. I found interesting that Cocaine usage was decreasing steadily in each age group. Prescription drug use and over-the-counter cough medicines did NOT decrease in usage either from the year 2007 and is most prevalent in 2009 in 10th grade.This further exemplifies our countries problem with prescription drugs.
EDC 102 Final Project Rubric for Part I: Background Research
Name:
Score:
Note:
Comments: